4 insights on the future of weight-loss medications to empower your benefits strategy

By: Wondr Health Scientific Advisory Board Member Donna H. Ryan, M.D. and Livvie Van Lanen

Last year, we saw tremendous growth in the weight-loss medication industry. The momentum gained in the weight-loss medication sector is not an isolated phenomenon, but a reflection of a broader societal shift towards prioritizing health and wellness. The catalyst driving interest in weight management was the emergence of medications based on advanced understanding of the neural regulation of food intake. Two medications, semaglutide (Wegovy), and tirzepatide (Zepbound) are the first FDA approved antiobesity medications produce and sustain robust weight loss of 15-25% on average.  In 2024, as we navigate the complex interplay of genetics, lifestyle, and the socio-cultural elements that impact our population, the landscape is set to evolve and adapt rapidly.

In a nation where 6 out of 10 individuals have chronic diseases related to obesity, and 70% of the population struggle with overweight or obesity, a comprehensive approach to patient care is imperative. We must take a wrap-around approach to healthcare to fully support patient needs, including the support of weight-loss medications where applicable. As medicine and weight-loss medications continue to evolve, we expect to see the following changes in the near future:

1. Expect soaring effectiveness for weight-loss medications

There will be more effective medications with a higher percentage of weight loss, such as Tirzepatide (single molecule, dual agonist).

• Combo medications — like CagriSema (combination of GLP-1 and amylin analog) and retatrutide (single molecule, triple agonist) that lead to more weight loss and target liver fat. Significant weight loss demands that you pay greater attention to diet, supplement use, and exercise to avoid nutrient deficiency and muscle loss.
• Activin and myostatin inhibitors – These can help promote muscle growth while losing fat and prevent bone loss and fractures.

2. Increased weight-loss medication convenience & accessibility

One of the largest challenges we’ve faced so far with weight-loss medications is accessibility for the general population. As the weight-loss medication landscape continues to progress, we’ve seen an influx in overall convenience and accessibility. For example, we can expect to see:

• Oral agents – If you have a particular product for a receptor (a non-peptide small molecule) and it can be given as a pill that makes it convenient, accessible, and less expensive to produce and ship around the country, then we can start to see the market shift significantly.
• Less frequent – Other approaches are to get away from weekly injections. There are medications currently in development that would need to be administered much less frequently than current injectables on the market.

3. Weight-loss medications will become more affordable

The price for different medications on the market currently varies, but most remain on the expensive side.

• Supply and demand — As we start to see more medications develop, and supply and demand start to level out, we can expect to see a decrease in price for these medications.
• Perspective — The majority of our population views weight-loss medications as a cosmetic solution, rather than a medical solution addressing chronic conditions with lifesaving costs. As this mindset shifts, we can expect to see a positive impact on the price of these medications.

4. Weight-loss medications will become more scalable

We anticipate growth in the infrastructure and scalability as the weight-loss medication industry continues to advance.

• Prescribers — The scalability of prescriber networks is crucial in addressing the diverse needs of individuals seeking weight-loss interventions. This entails expanding the pool of health-care professionals qualified to prescribe and monitor these medications, ensuring that a broad spectrum of patients can receive personalized and informed guidance.
• Patient support — Support systems, encompassing patient education, counseling, and ongoing monitoring, are integral components of scalability in the weight-loss medication industry. Using the newer medications effectively requires more than writing a prescription.  Patient  management for robust weight loss requires wraparound care.  As more individuals seek these interventions, scalable support mechanisms become paramount to accommodate the diverse requirements of patients.

The world of medicine is constantly evolving, and the introduction of weight-loss medications has the potential to truly transform the health of the general population. It is critical to equip professionals with the tools needed to provide comprehensive care to the populations facing chronic health conditions due to overweight or obesity. The future of weight-loss medications is marked by an evolution of medications, personalized approaches, and collaborative care.

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About Wondr Health:

Wondr Health is the proven leader in preventive and chronic care for metabolic, emotional, and physical health transformation for everyone. We partner with health plans and employers to deliver interrelated, personalized, skill-building programs for weight management, obesity, nutrition, stress relief, anxiety, and movement that improve quality of life and reduce the cost of chronic health conditions.

About the authors:

Donna Ryan, MD is Professor Emerita at Pennington Biomedical in Baton Rouge, LA, USA where she had a 25-year career in clinical research in obesity.  She was an Investigator on POUNDS Lost, Look AHEAD, DPP, DASH and many other studies of the health benefits of weight loss by diet,  lifestyle intervention and medications.  Her personal research studied improving primary care management of obesity. She has been an active member and former President of The Obesity Society (North America) and World Obesity Federation. Dr. Ryan was Co-Chair of the SELECT Trial Steering Committee a cardiovascular outcome trial with semaglutide. She is currently a member of the Data Safety Monitoring Committees for setmelanotide  and retatrutide. She has more than 300 publications, is a frequent speaker on obesity and diabetes treatments and remains an active consultant and advisor to companies developing drugs, devices, lifestyle programs and medical approaches to obesity management.

Livvie Van Lanen is B2B Marketing Specialist at Wondr Health. She is completing a Master of Arts in Happiness Studies at Centenary University, with a focus on the impact of happiness on employee well-being and organizations’ bottom line. With four years of marketing experience in the B2B/B2B2C space spanning from content to strategy, she is passionate about health and wellness, and creating healthier communities using tools like Wondr and eM Life.